SELLING CHINESE WHISKY

Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 140, 2 March 1918, Page 2

SELLING CHINESE WHISKY

CHINAMAN FINED £30. In the Magistrate's Court yesterday, before Mr. S. E. M'Carfchy, S.M.. a | Chinaman named Ah Cbong, for whom | the Hon. T. \V. Hislop appeared,_ was j cliarged with selling "Chinese whisky" j without a license. There wero two j charges. j Mr. Hislop, in onteriup; a plea of . I guilty, stated that Chinese wl;isky had j I been imported into the country for a j i great many years. A similar case had ; • been called in Wellington some twenty I years ago. They thought . that- the . !. Customs Department knew that the ! Chinese were importing this whisky in I large quantities. No prosecutions were undertaken for a very long time. The ; defendant had bought a business . of; which one branch was the selling of this liquor,-which the Chinese regarded as a medicine, and he carried on the business as his predecessor had. done. Under tho circumstances counsel urged that a nominal penalty would meet the case. . Inspector Marsack staled that an analysis of the liquor showed that it was" 2. 7 underproof and was very strong. The defendant s?nl the liquor to Otaki, and the man who received it had bean convicted and iineci. During November and December last defendant had handled 123 gallons of tho spirit. The. Magistrate said that- if the Chinese regarded this liquor as a medicine, then judging by the quantity sold Chinamen must Im "ill very frequently"From what I know of.the Oriental mind, I think that a severe penalty would best meet tho case." The defendant was fined £30 and costs. .